Tape serving apparatus



Fgb. 27, 1940.

'r. R. GAUTI ER TAPE SERVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29, 1958" s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1940. T. R. GAUTIER 2,192,132

' TAPE SERVING APPARATUS 7 Filed Nov. 29, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 27, 1940. T. R. GAUTIER TAPE szmvme APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Ndv. 29, 1938 rm mm a enema Feb. 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT .orrics 1': Claim (oi. res-4a)- 'I'his.lnvention relates to machines and apparatus for serving or dispensing strip material, particularly gummed tape, in desired lengths and moistened for application in packaging and other uses for which such material as adapted. One.

machine of this class is shown in nrv prior Patent 2,082,733, dated June 1, 1937. While my present invention is applicable to. this class of machines in general, in various respects it in- 30 valves improvement upon the apparatus of said patent. I

In the drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward portu tion of the machine, with the side cover plate I broken away to expose'certain parts of the feeding and cutting mechanisms;

Figs. 2 and 3 are views corresponding to Fig. 1 illustrating differentpositions of the operating no lever and associated parts during forward and reverse movements respectively, parts of the fee gearing being omitted for clearness;

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal vertical section centrally through the machine;

25 Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section as on the linev 5-5 of Fig. i; and

Fig. 6 is a plan, on a smaller scale, of the delivery end of the machine, tom the front cover thrown back;

w Figs. 7 and 8 are views generally-similar to 5, but taken rearwardly of the movable cutter, showing modifications of the feed roll assembly; and

Figs. 9 to 11 illustrate a modified form of the E cutter actuating mechanism, Fig. 5? corresponding to the upper portion of Fig. 1, Fig. 10 showing the cutter operating parts in actuated position, and Fig. 11 being a top plan of said parts. Referring to the drawings in more particular,

the machine as a whole comprises a housing including side frames l secured in spaced relation as by suitable cross ties, two of which are seen at 2, 2, in Fig. 4. One of the side frames.

' herein that at the right of an operator facing 45 the machine, is formedv with a laterally projecting flange 3, herein of generally circular form, providing a. compartment within which the gearing for the feed mechanism, and other operating 50 parts are conveniently housed. This gearing 4, see Fig. 1, having an inwardly directed flange complementary to the flange I on the machine frame and slotted to provide a path for the operu ating lever I between the cover and side frame,

compartment is normally closed by a cover plate in a generally similar manner as in my prior' patent above identified.

As seen in Fig, 4, a roll supply S of the strip material to be dispensed, such as gummed paper tape, is supported in a well 8 at the rear of & the housing, by means of a series of transverse 4 rollers, two of which are seen at l, l in Fig. 4. The machine is adapted'to handle various difierent widths of tape, the roll supply S being positioned transversely between laterally adiustw able guide plates, a portion of one of which appears at t in Fig. 4i. Keyhole slots 9 in the plates have reduced portions engageable in selected circumferential grooves in cross rods it, to hold the plates in selected'position similarly 5 as in my prior patent. The rod it seen in Fig. 4 is rotatably supported between the side frames, adapting it to serve also as a guide for the tape T coming from the supply.

The tape '1 is led forwardly from the roll on supply past the guide it and between an elongated under-guide or table it and an overlying floating guide or deflector plate is. The latter may be of a generally similar character as in my patent referred to, said two guides 62 and i3 95 together providing? a throat or feed passage for the tape. 4 v

The forward movement of the tape is efiected by rotary feed means engageable with its opposite faces. As best seen in Fig. 4, the tape feeding means here includes a lower or inner feed wheel or roll it fixed on a shaft it rotatably supported between the side frames i. This lower feed memher it, which is driven by means to be described, is engageable with the under face of the tape, g5 its gummed face, through an appropriate recess in the under guide it. Opposite said driven feed wheel 05 and in position to engage the top face of the tape through a similar recess in the upper guide or floating plate I 3, is a. cooperatingupmr or outer feed wheel or roll indicated as a whole by the numeral il.

This upper or outer rotary feed element i1 may be of a construction generally similar to that disclosed in. my said patent, including an outer annular tire-like member surrounding a stud shaft l8 and having friction-reducing hearing means interposed between it and said shaft. Said stud shaft is carried on a foot or projection I! at the base of a lever 20 having a bear- 5o lng collar 2| on a cross shaft 22. Pins 23 hold the lever 20 in position on said shaft accurately to align the upper feed wheel I1 with the lower one.

The upper feed wheel II is normally held yielda operating lever on the other. '66

ingly in operative relation with the lowerwheel I5, to grip and feed the tape between them, as by a spring 24 having one end attached to the upper end of the lever 20 and its other end secured to the machine framing as at 25. As best seen in Fig. 5, said lever 26 extends upwardly between the side frames to a point where it is readily accessible for engagement by a finger of the operator, as indicated at ,f, Fig. 4. At its upper end the lever has a finger piece or knob 26 for such engagement.

By thus engaging and depressing the lever the upper feed wheel unit I 7 is retracted or lifted away from the under wheel l5 into .a position such as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This ready separability of the feed wheels at the will of the operator facilitates threading the tape to and between them when a fresh roll supply is to be installed. Further, this manual retraction of the upper'feed unit exposes the underlying parts and permits the floating deflector plate It readily to be withdrawn bodily, for inspection or cleaning of the tape guides and associated parts. Release of the finger piece 26 of the lever 20 automatically restores the feed wheels to operative feeding relation. A rearward extension 21 of the foot IQ of the lever 26 acts as,a limiting stop for the return of the wheel IT, by engagement with the upper guide plate l3, avoiding injury to the surfaces of the feed wheels when no tape is present between them. Said stop 27 also confines the upper guide or deflector plate l3 against undesired vertical displacement.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 4, the lower feed roll or wheel l5, faston its supporting shaft I6, is driven through a train of gearing, preferably and as herein illustrated of a high ratio, of the orderv of at least about one to ten as between the operating lever 5 and the feed roll l5, in a manner broadly similar to that as disclosedin my prior patent already mentioned. This drive mechanism includes a pinion 28 fast on the lower feed roll shaft l6, which extends outwardly through the righthand frame "I into the gear compartment. There the pinion 28 meshes with an intermediate gear 29 having fixed on its hub a pinion 30, both rotatably supported on a stud 3|. The pinion 36 in' turn meshes with-a large gear 32 which is fast on a stud shaft 33 on the side frame.

Qne-way drive connections, herein of the pawl and ratchet type, are provided between the gear 32 and the shaft 33, on the one hand, and the These connections include a ratchet wheel 34 also fast on the shaft 33 and adapted to be driven in the forward or feeding direction through one or more springpressed pawls 35 pivoted at the inner face of a pawl-carrier or disc 36 which is loosely positioned on the shaft 33. a

The connections between the operating lever 5 and the shaft 33 further include a plate or connector piece 31 having a bearing collar 38 for loosely supporting it rotatably on the lever shaft 33. Said piece 31 as illustrated is in effect the base portion of the lever, providing the pivotal mounting for the operating or manual-engaging outer portion of the lever and also being comprised in the connections between the latter chine, that is, at right angles to the main path of the lever, as by a pin held in the ears 46.

A coil spring 42 bears between a seat 43 on the collar 38 of the connector piece 37 and a boss 44 on the lever. This spring tends normally to urge the lever bodily inward about its transverse pivotal axis provided by said pin.

The operating lever 5 carries a laterally projectingfeed stop 5a, for cooperation with one or more adjustable stop elements, such as the stop 5b on the side cover plate 4, Fig. 1, as more fully illustrated for example in said Patent 2,082,733 and also in myPatents 2,066,617, 2,066,- 618, and'2,066,6l9, dated January 5, 1937. As herein shown the lever 5 is afforded an action whereby its stop means may be rendered operative or inoperative, by engagement or avoidance of one or more of the cooperable stops or abutments 5b, at the will of the operator, for the purposes of selective feed-length control. Various forms of such feed-length control are disclosed in my said'Patent 2,082,733 and claimed in said related patents of January 5, 1937. In the particular example here illustrated the lever itself has capacity for shiftingmovement, transversely of its main path, by reason of the described'movable connections between it and the shaft which supports it, in the general manner as claimed broadly for example in said Patent The connector piece 37 is itself operably en-.,

gaged with the pawl-carrier 36, through a lostmotion connection comprising a pin 45 on one part, herein the piece'3'l, and a slot 46 in the other, herein the pawl-carrier 36. Hence the latter and the described feed gearing are caused to turn with the operatinglever 5 during the greater portion of the forward movement of the lever. During an initial portion of said forward lever movement, however, the described lost-motion connection allows the pawl-carrier 36 and the feed gearing to remain at rest, for purposes to be described. A spring 36a connected to said carrier and to a side frame tends to hold the carrier with its slot 46 in the position relative to the pin 45 on the connector piece 31 as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the pin has the length of the slot for free movement before picking up This spring is bowed intermediate its ends intov a generally U -like form, by bending it around a grooved roller 52 rotatably supportedon a bracket 53 on the adjacent side frame I. Below the roller 52 the spring has its other end removably attached to a-hook 54 which is variably positionable lengthwise the machine, said hook being herein pivoted on the frame, in this instance on the side frame remote from the lever, that is, the left side. The hook 54 is adapted to be held selectively in any one of a plurality of downwardly opening notches 55 at the lower part of the frame and formed integrally therein or in a separate element such as the block 56 secured to the right side frame. Said block is shown as adjustable lengthwise the machine as 'by means of the screw and slot connections with the frame as indicated at 51, 51.-

Thus the degree of tension for the lever return spring as a whole may be regulated quickly and conveniently merely by shifting the spring-attaching hook from one notch 88 to another. By bowing or breaking the spring 68 around the roller 82 in the manner illustrated the spring is in effect aiforded a compound action and the speed and force of the return movement of the operating lever B is morev nearly equalized over the entire-path of travel ofthe lever. For relatively short strokes of the lever, such for example as a movement from the rest position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2 the spring tensioning is largely confined to the upper half of the spring, while during longer strokes the spring tensloning is passed along from the upper portion through the remainder of v the spring, thus in effect lengthening the spring and decreasing'the total tensioning accordingly; I

The tape T is advanced by the described feeding means forwardly through the channel provided between the lower and upper guides i2, it,

to and past suitable means for severing the tape into the desired lengths. The severing means herein comprises a fixed blade to horizontally disposed crosswise the machine, in substantial continuation of the under-guide it, and supported on the side frames as by lugs ti thereon and on which the blade so is detachably held as The front portion of thisfixed blade it presents a cutting edge for cooperation by screws 62.

with a movable blade or cutter, indicated as a whole by the numeral E363, of the guillotine type, adapted to be moved across the path of the tape, herein downwardly from above, to shear the tape. The blade proper so may be variously shaped at its cutting edge, and may be formed of one or more parts.

As mat seen in Fig. 5, the movable cutter lid is illustrated in this instance as composed of a. plurality of separable units 644, Mb either and both of which may easily be demounted for sharpening or replacement. edges of said units together form a blade of a shallow inverted V-like formation, giving a progressive cutting action across the tape. Said units are removably secured as by screws 65 to a blade-carrying block 66; see also Fig. 4. At its.

outer side portions each knife unit We, 66b has a depending finger 61, as to which are attached springs so, ill adjacent the corresponding side frame and secured thereto as at l i, Fig. 4. These springs bias the movable cutter 6d yieldably toward the fixed element to, insuring a good shearing action. Said depending fingers t1, $8 of the movable blade also act as vertical guides for the latter, in sliding engagement against the front face of the fixed member so. The movable ,element is thus confined and guided for movement in a given plhne, herein substantially vertical and perpendicular to the path of the tape.

The movable cutter element 66, including the carrier block to, is 'pivotally connected, as 'by pins l2, ill at the opposite ends of said block, to a supporting yoke it of general U-formation as viewed in plan. This yoke in turn is supported by its rearwardly extending arms 15, I5 whichare pivoted for vertical movement on the cross shaft 22 previously described in connection with the upper feed wheel I]. Thus the movable cutter assembly as a whole, including the blade or cutter 65- on the carrier block 66 and the yoke 14 has a horizontal pivotal axis provided .by the cross shaft-22 but the cutter proper 84 has sub- The lower cutting Said movable cutter assembly as a .whole is normally held up in raised position clear of the tape path, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. For this, purpose I provide springs 18, TI at the two sides of the machine; attached to the cutter yoke 14 at their lower ends and having their upper ends' held on studs or the like on the adjacentside frames, as at 18,- I8.

7 The cutter device lsherein operated automatir' cally upon release of the operatinglever 5, and

in a positive manner but so as tp-be released substantially instantaneously. Thusit has a very rapid movement across the tape and return, and

the tape path. This substantially instantaneouscutting and clearing action of the cutter or knife reduces to a minimum any opportunity for jamming of the tape by its engagement with the cutter, such as heretofore sometimes caused by anunintended tape feeding action produced by rebound of the operating lever or by the momentum of the feed gearing and associated parts, continuing their movement after the feed stroke of the operating lever is complete.

Turning now to .the mechanism for so actuating thecutter, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the of the blade-carrying block he is extended outwardly through the side frame 5, as seen in Fig.5, and is pivoted at its .end in a link or cutter actuator 86. This actuator has at its upper end a cam means, herein an angular slotted'formation including an elongated vertical, portion hi and a shorter horizontal portion 82. This slot formation receives a pin @3- projecting laterally at the front end of a mole arm as pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 85 on the adjacent side frame; At the rear end of this rock arm 86 is a cam roll 88 adapted toride on an arcuate cam 81 at the inner face of the operating lever 5. A spring 88 connected at one end to the rocls. arm 84,- rearwardly of its pivot point 85, and at its other end to the actuator so, draws the latter yieldably toward the rock a. Rearw ard movement of the actuator is limited as by a stop til on the adjacent side frame.

In the rearward or rest ating lever 5, against its back stop ll, as represented in Fig. l, the movable cutter, its actuator and the rock arm as have the relative posi tions substantially as there shown. The com roll 86 is then resting on the highest'portion of the the vertical portion ti oi the cam slot formation in the actuator.

When the lever 5 is drawn forward by the operator to obtain a length of moistened tape, said operating lever and its connector piece 3'5. at first move freely without actuating the feed gearing, by reason of thelost-motion connection l5, 48 already described. During this initial lever movement, the rear end of the rock arm as drops under the action of the spring tion substantially as shown in Fig. 2, the cam roll 86 riding down and oil from thecam 81. The forward end of the rock arm 84 accordingly is elevated, carrying the pin 88 up to the level of the horizontal portion 82 of the slot formation in the actuator. The spring 88 accordingly causes the latter to snap rearwardly, bringing the pin 83 into said horizontal slotted portion.

posltion of the oper-,

88 to the posionly momentarily is ever in a position blocking supporting pin it at the right end This preparatory or cocking movement of the rock arm 89 and cutter actuator 80 positively engages these two elements, providing a positive connection'betweenthe rock arm 89 and the cutter element 64 itself. Hence when the rear end of the rock arm 84 is subsequently elevated, by re-engagement of the cam'roll 89 with the cam 81 during return movement of the operating lever 5, the actuator 89 is positively moved downwardly, forcing the cutter down across the tape path and shearing the tape. Said depressed, cutting position of the cutter 64, its actuator 89 and the rock arm 99 is illustrated in Fig. 3. In said figure the operating lever has been released after making its forward stroke, has returned sufliciently to actuate the cutter, and the described cutting operation has taken place. The operating lever has not yet fully completed its return movement, as will be seen by noting its position relative to its back stop 41, but the pin 83 at the front end of the rock arm has already moved back along the horizontal cam slot 82, under the action of the lever cam 81, until it is substantially on the point of re-entering the vertical slotted portion 85.

Hence after a very slight further rearward movement of the operating lever, further depressing the front end of the rock arm 84 and carrying the pin 83 off from the shoulder formed by the lower edge of the horizontal cam slot 82, the actuator 80 and the entire movable cutter unit connected to it at 73 are free to rise, under the action of the cutter return springs 16, H, Fig. 5, previously described. Thus themovable cutter and its operating parts are substantially instantaneously returned to their initial position of Fig. 1, clearing the cutter from the tape path. The entire severing and return movement of the cutter is extremely rapid, being completed during a fractional part of the total lever return movement. The cutter and its actuator 80 are operatively disconnected from the rockarm 94 before a the lever has fully returned into engagement with its back stop 41. Thus any possible rebound'of the lever can have no effect on the cutter such .as might cause it to obstruct the tape path. But

by reason of the described preparatory free movement'of the operating lever at the beginning of its next forward stroke the cutter actuating parts are again cooked or operatively engaged, in positively connected relation, in readiness for the' actuator but also insures that possible lever rebound does not actuate the feed mechanism. In addition, the described cutter connections for effecting a positive but rapid cutting and clearing action insure that the knife is open and the tape path clear at the time of any accidental or unintended feeding of the tape. As previously noted, such unintentional feed may occasionally be caused by the overrunning or momentum of the feed gearing, after the forward or feeding stroke of the lever 5 has been completed and the lever has started its return stroke. Such action is more frequent after the machine. has been well brokers in and is operated at high speed. The cutting action as herein disclosed -is arranged totake place near the end of the lever return stroke, when such excess feed producing momentum generally will have been dissipated, but nevertheless there may be some such remaining efiect at times. The described rapid cut-ofl and instantaneous clearance of the knife from the tape path prac tically obviates any jamming effect on the tape at such times.

Forwardly beyond the severance point the tape:

path continues between a bottom guide plate and an overlying deflector or guide plate 9|. The latter has lateral bosses or positioning elements 92 at its front portion, see Figs. 4 and 9,

for pivoting it on a pin 93 held on the side framesguide element 95 constitutes tape presser means adapted to rest by gravity on the upper face of the tape, to cause the latter to pass with its under and gummed face in moistening relation with the'underlying moistening means.

As shown in Fig. 4, the moistening means is of the capillary or wick type, including one or more inverted brushes 96, 96 upstanding from a liquid reservoir '91 removably positioned between the The described tape guide means side frames I. including the deflector plate 9| and guiding presser means 95 operatively associated with the moistener means'95 may be similar to that more fully disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial'No. 115,370.

In the machine of my present invention auxiliary guiding. and presser means is provided at the tape delivery point, in advance of the guide element 95. For this purpose a transverse pin 98 is provided at a point beyond the deflector and presser assembly 9I95, said pin being held on the side frames in a forward extension of the side blocks 99. This front pin 99 positions for free rotation a rotary presser org'uide element 99, which also may be composed of one or more longitudinal units. As in the guide element 95, the bearing apertures in the roller or roller units of the auxiliary element 99 are of larger diameter than their positioning pin 98, allowing said element to have a vertical floating movement and to rest by gravity on the upper face of the underlying. tape.

' This supplemental forward guiding and presser element 99 preferably also is formed with a series of circumferential grooves, see Fig. 6, and the positioning pins 93, 9B are so disposed relatively to each other that the two rotaryeleme'nts- 95 and 99 intermesh, their annular ribs 950. and

99a being receivable each in the grooves of the other. The tape contacting portions of the two roller elements are thus brought into close proximity with each other Iength Wise the machine, insuring an effective guiding of the tape but with a minimum of frictional resistance thereon. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 6 that the annular ribs 95a of the rear element 95 have flat circumferential surfaces, of appreciable .width, whereas the annular members 99a of the forward roll means 99 are V-shaped in section, having a relatively thin outer edge. Thus 1 provide in this instance a substantially greater total contact for the rear guide roll means 95, transversely of the tape and at the zone where the gummed face of the tape first comes in contact with the moistening means, than for the forward ill).

The pin It for said forward presser element 08, substantially at the tape delivery point, is further utilized as a pivot support for hinging the forward cover plate I 00, Fig. 4. Said cover is adapted to be received on and between the side frames, normally to close in the operating parts at the front portion of the machine. It may extend rearwardly for the full length oi the machine or be supplemented by a similar cover part overlying the rear portion of the tape well and pivoted at the back part of the machine frames or housing.

As seen in Figs.- 4 and 8, the cover plate I has fingers llll-at its lower edge pivotally received on said pin 98, allowing the cover to be swung between its closed full-line position of Fig. 4 and an open position as represented in dotted lines in said figure. The underlying parts are thus readily accessible, for'adiusting the tape and for we cleaning and inspection purposes, including particularly the deflector; plate 9i (noting its a dotted elevatedposition in Fig. 4),thefinger lever on theside frames i, ;I', being held in-position lengthwise theshaft by anysuitablemeanssuch 20 of the upper feedroll II, the removable top guide plate 13 and theotherassociated parts. I Said cover lull-is not fully'openedin, its dotted position of Fig. 4 and may be swung forwardly, substantially into a horizontal position, until held by shoulders I02 on the cover-supporting fingers coming into engagement with the inner pin 93 already described and which accordingly may have this additional cover positioning function; Fig. 6.

In Figs. '7 and 8 I have shown-rotary feed means adapted for dispensing a plurality of tape lengths, from a like number of tape supplies. The views are taken on a line just behind the cutter mechanism, see Fig. 4, down to the tape chute and perpendicularly through the latter, looking toward the rear. Parts not otherwise referred to may be the same as in the previous fi ures.

Referring now to Fig. I, the lower and upper guides l2 and 13 provide a feed throat as in the previous example. The driven shaft I [has fixed on it rotary means, unitary or otherwise, for feeding a plurality of different tapes T,-two in this instance. Said rotary means as here shown comprises separate feed wheels or. rolls" lid and lib spaced for engaging the under faces of the tapes T, through corresponding apertures in the lower guide II. The upperguide I 3. is similarly apertured for a like plurality of upper or outer rotary feed elements; wheels, or rolls "a and "b in line with the lower wheels "a and I b respectively. Said upper feed wheels I'la, llb individually may be the same as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, each having a supporting stud I to, I81) on corresponding feet l9a,

lab atthe' base of the levers a, 20b.

In the example of Fig. 7, the upper feed wheels are adapted to be lifted independently, to move -"them bodily away from the paths'of the tapes, I for the purposes described in connection with the earlier figures, referring particularly toFigs.

4 and 5. The levers 2011, 201) accordingly qarel. loosely mounted by means :of theirbearingcol lars 2ia,- 2lb forrooking on'the'crossshaftin as pins'or the like. The upper feed wheels l'la,

l'lb normally are held yieldingly 'in] operative relation with the corresponding lower wheels l 50.,

llb as by springs Ila, Nb, similarly-as in the earlier single-feed example; Stops 21a, 21b on the lever feet Isa, lib limit the in-movement off said upper'wheels, also as in said earlier example.

' The individual release levers m, m extend up between the side frames for convenient access by theoperator, and each has at its upper end a finger pieceor knob 26a, 26b for manipulating it to lift the corresponding upper feed wheel l'la or I'll) independently. Said levers and their finger pieces may be substantially the same, or arranged as left and right members in a manner as illustrated in Fig. 7.

In thejembodiment of Fig. 8, a plurality of lower and upper-feed wheels is provided, similarly as in Fig. 7, corresponding reference numerals' being used'for like parts. In this instance, however, the plurality of.upper wheels is arranged to be lifted simultaneously for separation from the under rotary means, by a single manipulating or release lever 20c, acted on by its spring 240, and having afinger piece 260. At its lower portion said lever 20c has a single elongated bearing collar 2lc .whereby it is supported for rocking movement onor with the cross shaft 22. The wheel-supporting rearward projections .180, Nb are both integral with said collar Ilc.

Thus amanipulation of the common lever.2llc,

I similarly as explained inconnection with Fig. '4, serves to'lift the plurality of upper wheels I la and I'll) together. 7

An arrangement with independent control of the plural upper feed wheels, as in Fig. '7, is desirable for certain types of installations, particularly where different weights or other character 1937. The illustrated examples of Figs. 7 and 8,

wherein plural lengths of tape are fed simultaneously are particularlyuseful for shipping rooms and similar pointswhere the packages or other objects to be taped require several pieces of tape of the same length, as for transverse application to more or less elongated parcels, packages, boxes and thelike.

Turning now to Figs. 9 to 11, I have there shown a modified form of cutter actuating mechanism. Here also, parts not otherwise referred to may be the same as in the preceding figures.

In this instance the cutter actuator or link 80a has a fixed pivotal connection as at I05 with the forward end of the rock arm 84a pivoted'at 85a on the side frame I. .;On the rear portion of the rock arm Mathere is pivotally attached,

\ as at I06, a movable or shifting cam member I01 having at its upper part a lateral finger i08 extending .acrossabove the rock arm and cooperable with-thelatter to limit the downward or, H

counter-clockwise pivoting movement of the cam I01. relative to the rock arm, operatively to pcsitionsaid cam. Below its pivot I06'the cam -me mber has;a cam proper I09, of a width for cooperation with apam roll H0.

' 'lhisi-camrolla-llo is supported for movement with 1the--operating lever 5a, in this instance on an upward extension 31a of the base portion or connector piece 31-. of the lever. which otherwise may be constructed and arranged as previously described. Said extension 31a has a boss ill at its inner facersee particularly Fig. 11, receiving a stud 2 on which'the cam roll (I is rotatably supported, at a level for cooperation with the cam I09 of the cam member I01.

In Fig. 9 the operating lever is shown in its normal or rest position, at the rear limit of its path. The cam roll IIII then stands behind the variably positionable cam member or element I01, as seen in said figure. At the start of a forward stroke of the operating lever, and during its initial inactive or non-feeding motion in the forward direction, the cam roll engages the rear face of the cam member I01, elevates it, as

- Such forward position of the lever, with the cam roll I I0 ahead of the cammember is-shown in Fi'gfill, and by the dotted representation of the cam roll in Fig. 10.

During return movement of the Operating 1ever 5a and its base piece 31, 310, the cam roll I I0 thereon engages thecam face I09 of the cam member I01, thrusting against the latter substantially radially of its pivot point I06 and hence forcing the cam member and the rear portion of the rock arm 84a upwardly. The front end of the. rock arm accordingly is depressed, moving the cutter actuator a downwardly as shown in 'Fig. 10. This causes the movable blade to sever the tape, the actuator being pivotally connected at its lower end, as at I3, to the cutter carrier or block, similarly as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6. This actuation of the cutter is a positive and rapid action and the cutter and its actuator are substantially instantaneously released, quickly clearing the tape path as described in said earlier instance, the cam roll IIII passing off rearwardly from below the cam member I01 and resuming its position behind the latter, as in Fig. 9, during the latter portion of the operating lever return movement. In Fig. 10 the cam roll III! is shown at the instant of riding out rearwardly from engagement with the cam member during said lever return.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof -illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims.

I claim:

1, In a tape dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support for a tape supply, tape feeding means including an operating lever having forward and return movements, a cutter movable across the tape path to sever the tape, a cutter actuator to effect said movement of the cutter, a rock arm having a movable connection with said actuator positively to engage or to release the latter, and means on the operating lever engageable with said rock arm, to move the latter into operative engagement with the actuator during the first part of the forward movement of said lever, and to actuate the cutwheels, a movable cutter for the tape, andpositive connections between the lever and the cutter having actuating and released positions, said blade actuator also pivotally connected with the blade, a rock arm on the frame cooperable with the actuator to give it a blade actuating move- 3 ment or to release'it, and cam connections between the operating lever and said rock arm whereby the rock arm and actuator are conditioned for blade actuation during movement of the lever in one direction and effect such actuation and instantly release the actuator and blade during opposite movement of the lever.

4. In a tape dispensing machine having means to feed the tape from a supply, a cutter blade movable across the path of the tape to sever it,

a yoke element pivotally supported on a fixed horizontal axis spaced from the tape path in the direction perpendicular to it, means pivotally supporting the cutter blade on said yoke ele-, ment on an axis paralleling that of the latter to permit rectilinear movement of the bladeto and from the tape path during pivotal movement of the yoke, and means to actuate the blade.

5. In a tape dispensing machine, the combination according to claim 4 wherein the yoke pivot is vertically above the tape path, and including spring means for normally retaining the yoke and blade in, and returning them to, elevated position clear of the tape path.

6. In a tape dispensing machine, a frame, a support for a tape supply, feeding and severing means for the tape, an operating lever pivotally supported for swinging movement on the frame in forward and reverse directions, and operating connections between the lever and the feeding and the severing means whereby the lever actuates the feeding means during forward movement, the severing means during reverse movement, and has an initial non-feeding action at. the start of its forward movement.

7. In a tape dispensing machine having a frame and a support for a tape supply, tape feeding means having 'an operating-lever, a cutter blade movable in a plane perpendicular to the feed path of the tape, a blade supporting yoke movable on the frame and having operative connection with the blade, spring means normally holding the blade clear of the tape path, a blade actuator also operatively connected with the blade, a rock arm on 'the frame and engageable at one end with said actuator, a variably positionable cam element movably supported at the other end of the rock arm, and cooperable means movable with the operating lever and adapted to shift the cam element so as to 'pass it during a first part of the movement of the lever in one direction and to engage said element and thereby eifect blade actuation during the opposite movement of the lever, said cam element being automatically positioned for such engagement during completion of the lever movement in the direction first mentioned.

aicaiaa ,cutter movable across the tape path to sever thetape, cam means moving with the operating member, an actuating element connected to and vertically movable with the cutter, a pivoted 'element including front and rear arms, the rear arm-being disposed for operative engagement byjsaid cam means, a-vertically elongatedslot formation on the cutter actuating element, the

"front arm of said'pivoted element being received 'in' said --slot formation and having downwardly effective operative engagementztherein with said actuating elementfiv said cam means and said actuating'andpivoted elements having rapid positive actuation .during return movement of the operating member and being immediately interreleased to insure prompt clearance of the cutter 'from the tape path.

10. A tape dispensing machine comprising, in

combination, a housing including a tape supplysupport, tape feed means, a manual operating element having forward and return motions, one-- way drive mechanism between said element and the feed means to actuate the latter during forward motion of the manual element, a vertically rectilinearly reciprocable cutter for the tape, means in (the housing to support and guide the cutter for said reciprocation, and cutter actuating means interposing the manual elementand the cutter and including an upright member, a vertically movable lever member on the housing for engaging with the upright member and with a contact member moving with the manual operating element, said members having operatively effective and released relative conditions and being caused by the manual operating element to assume their, operatively effective relative condition during a preparatory flrstportion of the'forward feeding movement of the latter and being substantially instantaneously actuated to cut the tape andto return to their relatively released condition as said manual elementreturns.

11. In a tape dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, asupport for a tape supply, tape feeding means including an operating lever having forward and return movements, a cutter movable across the tape path to sever the tape, an

uprightactuating connector to effect said movement of the cutter, a lever arm pivoted on the frame for rocking motion and having movable engagement with said connector affording a preparatory relative movement between them and a cutter-actuating movement of the two together, and means moving with the feed operating lever andengageable with the pivoted lever arm to effect said preparatory movement during a first part of the forward movement of said feed operating'lever and to actuate the cutter and imsaid connector during mediately release it and the operating lever return movement.

12'. Tape dispensing mechanism comprising a frame housing a support for a tape supply and a guide flooring leading forwardly therefrom, tape feeding means also housed by the frame including a pair of feed wheels, pawl and ratchet mechanism and a drive element to rotate one of the wheels in the direction to advance the tape between them, a blade carrier device including a transverse supporting member and a connected 13. Ina-tape dispensing machine, a frame providing a supportfor a tape supply, means on the frame extendingforwardlyfrom said support to afford a guide-table for. the tape including front and rear-'tableporti'ons having a transverse slot between them, .a' blade carrier: element extending transversely of the tape guide'tableand mounted on the frame'for vertical rectilinear reciprocating movement, a blade having a cutting edge directed toward said slot, means demountably attaching the blade to said carrier elementfor rectilinear movement throughsaid slot in the table and return,- spring means'normally holding the carrier element in a position with the'bla'de away from said slot, rotary feed means for the tape including one-way drive mechanism therefor, and meansoperatively interposing said drive mechanism and the blade carrier element to move the latter toward said slot upon operation of said drive mechanism in only one direction thereby to sever that portion of the tape opposite said slot.

14. In a tape dispensing machine, a frame providing a support for a tape supply, longitudinally extending means on the frame affording a guide table for the tape including front and rear table portions having-a transverse slot between them,

.means including rotary feed wheels to advance the .tape along the guide table and across said the frame for vertical rectilinear rciprocating movment, a. guillotine-like blade having a downwardly directed cutting edge with portions disposed at=an angle to each other, means demountably attaching the blade to said carrier element for rectilinear movement downwardly through said slot in the table' and return, spring means normally holding the carrier element in a position'with the-blade above said slot, and lever means operatively available following a tape advancing operation to depress the blade carrier element and blade to cut the tape opposite said slot 'for delivery .of the severed portion at the front end of the guide table.

15. In a tape dispensing machine, a frame providing a support for a tape supply, a guide table for the tape having a transverse slot intermediate its ends, a cutter device mounted on the frame for vertical rectilinearmovement and including a transverse sup'porting member and a blade fixed thereon with its cuttinghedgedisposed toward said slot, spring meansacting normallyvto move the cutter device to position the blade away from the slot of the tape guide-table,.'and actuating ,means periodically to move the-cutter device in the direction for severing the tape opposite the,

slot and then quickly to release said device for returnto normal position away from the slot,

= said actuating means including an upright ele-- merit connected to the blade-supporting member of the cutter device, and associated vertically movable actuating lever mechanism having a preparatory movement without moving the cutter device and such that subsequent movement including opposed spaced side members, a blade carrier extending transversely between said side members, a cutter blade mounted on said carrier, means on the side members positioning the blade carrier for rectilinear vertical movement in the housing, spring means constantly urging the carrier and blade to a normal inactive position, an

upright member connected to the carrier and having in it an elongated slot, an operating lever movably carried by the housing and having a portion loosely engaging in said slot, a hand actuating lever supported on the housing for rotary movement in one and the opposite direc tions, a tripping element movingwith said hand lever, an extension on the carrier operating lever disposed in the path of said tripping element, engagement of said extension by the tripping element upon rotary movement of the hand lever in one direction being effective to move the operating lever in said slot without movement of the carrier, and reverse engagement, between the 1 tripping element and said extension during rotary movement of the hand lever in the opposite direction acting to shift said carrier, operating lever and simultaneously to move the carrier and its blade to active tape-severing position, and spring means :onnected between the housing and the hand lever and constantly urging the latter ,in

said opposite direction.

17. In a tape dispensing machine in combination; a frame,,a support for a tape supply, tape feeding means including an operating handle having forward and return movements, a guillotine-like cutter blade having a normal posi-,

tion above the tape path and guided for rectilinear vertical movement downwardly across the tape path and return, a rock lever pivoted on the frame, an actuator positively connected to the cutter blade and having-a vertically elongated slot formation movably receivinga forward portion of said rock lever, spring means normally urging the cutter blade and actuator upward, cam means moving with the operating handle and operatively engageable with a rear portion of the rock lever, the tape feeding means also including connections afiording an initial non-feeding forward movement of the operating handle during, which there occurs a preparatory vertical movement of the rock lever relative to the cam means and to the slotted actuator, said cam means and said rear portion of the rock lever being shaped and positioned for operative interengagement in the course of the handle return movement' thereby substantially instantaneously to throw down said forward portion of the rock lever and the'cutter blade actuator engaged thereby and then quickly to free the latter and the cutter blade for restoration by the spring means to normal elevated posiion. I

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